NEWS
1st stamp issue 2025
02 - 14 / 03-03 / 04 - 01
80th Birthday of Prince Hans-Adam II.
H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II von und zu Liechtenstein celebrates his 80th birthday on February 14, 2025. To mark the occasion, we are issuing a special miniature sheet on the same day with the two stamps “80th Birthday” (face value CHF 3.10) and “H.S.H. Prince Hans-Adam II” (face value CHF 4.30) with a total value of CHF 7.40.
A high-quality lim-ited special edition will be issued at the same time. As part of this, the numbered stamp block printed on silk is present-ed in a gold folder with foil embossing.
The current Prince Regnant was born as the eldest son of Prince Franz Josef II and Princess Gina towards the end of the Second World War. He is the 15th reigning Prince of the House of Liechtenstein. Together with his siblings, he grew up at Vaduz Castle and studied business administration and economics at the University of St. Gallen after leaving school.
In 1984, Prince Franz Josef II entrusted the then Hereditary Prince with the affairs of state. Prince Hans-Adam II took over the regency after the death of his father on November 13, 1989. The Prince was married to Princess Marie-Aglaë (1940-2021) and is the father of four children. He appointed his eldest son Alois as his deputy in 2004.
Brass Band Music
Our new self-adhesive definitive stamps are dedicated to brass band music, a cultural tradition that is actively practiced in Liechtenstein. The forerunner of the local brass bands was founded in 1862, when five young men came together to form a brass band called the “Musikgesellschaft Triesen”.
Since 1921, music societies have been active in ten of the country's eleven municipalities. They have gradually joined the Liechtenstein Music Association, which was founded in 1926, and come together annually for a nationwide brass band music festival.
In addition to regular rehearsals and performances, all music bands focus on encouraging young people. Whereas a few decades ago, young musicians were usually trained on their instruments by fellow members of the brass band, today they are given lessons at the Liechtenstein Music School. In addition to musical education and activities, socializing is not neglected in the clubs.
The colorful stamps with graphic depictions of various instruments bear the tempo indications “Andante” (face value CHF 1.00), “Moderato” (face value CHF 1.20), “Allegro” (face value CHF 1.90) and “Presto” (face value CHF 2.50).
80 Years of the Liechtenstein Red Cross
For 80 years now, the Liechtenstein Red Cross has been putting its activities at the service of humanity. With the two special stamps “Rescue” (face value CHF 1.20) and “Protect” (face value CHF 1.90), we are focusing on the long tradi-tion of helping people at home and abroad.
The organization was founded in 1945 on the initiative of H.S.H. Princess Gina von und zu Liechtenstein. This was prompted by the plight of refugees on the Principality's border, where thousands of people were seeking help in the final days of the war.
Since then, various aid structures have grown under the umbrella of the Liechtenstein Red Cross, whose presidency was passed on to H.S.H. Princess Marie in 1985 and Hereditary Princess Sophie in 2015.
Today, the motto is ‘People. Save. Life‘ is at the heart of the Liechtenstein Red Cross’ tasks. The LRK includes the rescue service, mother and father counselling, coordination of blood donation campaigns, courses and the Red Cross Youth. The House of Families and the Gamander House in Schaan are also run by the Red Cross. As part of the global humanitarian network, LRK Foreign Aid also supports international projects.
EUROPA - National Archaeological Discoveries
This year's EUROPA stamps, which the member states of the Organization of European Postal Operators (PostEurop) issue once a year on a common theme, are dedicated to the topic of “National Archaeological Discoveries”. Liechten-stein is participating with a joint printing of two special stamps “Stag (left)” and “Warriors (right)” (face value CHF 1.90 each).
The subjects used are four of a total of ten votive figures. The solid cast bronze figures were found in 1932 in redeposit-ed layers on the south-eastern slope of the Gutenberg castle hill in Balzers.
They date from the Late Iron Age (500-100 BC) and are unique in their thematic composition. Together with compact layers of ash and animal bones, the figurines point to a nearby cremation site. Historians assume that the figures were offered there as symbolic sacrifices to a supernatural power.
The Gutenberg votive statuettes show influences from the Celtic and Rhaetian cultures and can be assigned to the three themes of war, fertility and animals. The very different quality of the depictions and the inconsistent composition of the bronze indicate different workshops and production times.
